Four Eyes

In this episode, Deepon interviews Amrit along with Dr. Manraj Fervaha to dive into the dynamics of their business partnerships within Northern Sight Optometry. They discuss what strategies they used to determine a suitable business partner, what qualities they look for in a partner, and the pros and cons to owning a private practice with a partner. This episode offers great perspectives to help new grad optometrists and solo practitioners make decisions as to whether or not a business partnership is the perfect opportunity for them! The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect Learn more about Dr. Manraj Fervaha

The Four Eyes hosts chat with Dr. Kambiz Silani, Optometrist and owner of Beverly Hills Optometry, on the importance of OD-to-OD referrals and how they play a pivotal role in dry eye management. Dr. Silani shares his treatment approach to ocular surface disease and how he has incorporated advanced tools and diagnostic equipment within his practice over the past decade to thoroughly address his patient’s concerns. The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect Learn more about Dr. Silani

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Dr. Alison Bozung, a seasoned Optometrist and new parent, to explore the art of balancing a thriving career with the joys and responsibilities of parenthood. Tune in to hear about her experiences in family planning, the considerations that went into her decisions, and the challenges she has overcome along the way! The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect

Four Eyes is sharing an all-new Case Reflection episode where Dr. Bilkhu and Dr. Kar discuss a patient encounter that led to firing the patient from the practice. This is an important conversation that new graduates and young ODs can learn from, especially when working as an associate doctor within a corporate or private practice setting. The conversation dives into what could lead the doctor and staff to become uncomfortable with a patient, how a decision to break up with the patient comes to be, and what steps should be taken to ensure the procedure is handled appropriately and professionally. It’s rare to have these conversations openly with other Optometrists, so be sure to listen to the entire episode and take notes! The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect Check out these resources mentioned in today’s episode: American Optometric Association - Ethics Forum; CPSO - Ending the Physician-Patient Relationship

In this hour-long episode, the Four Eyes hosts dive deep into a conversation with Dr. Davinder Sidhu, an Optometrist practicing in British Columbia, regarding business metrics that apply to business owners and associate doctors. This is a very rare topic of discussion for young Optometrists, as business training is not taught in most Optometry schools. Dr. Sidhu shares very detailed information about the numbers we should be paying attention to in a practice, and how we can use those numbers to increase profits as well as patient satisfaction. The best part about this episode is that Dr. Sidhu’s advice applies not just to business owners, but also young associate Optometrists who are wanting to grow and become more involved within their practice location. You will not find the depth of this information anywhere else in the Optometry world, so be sure to listen to the entire episode and take down notes! The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect Learn more about Dr. Davinder Sidhu Check out these resources mentioned in today’s episode: Review of Optometric Business; ODs on Finance; Eyecare Business Magazine; Optometric Management; The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber; Key Performance Indicators by Bernard Marr; Measure School on Youtube

Amrit and Deepon sit down with Dr. Alexa Hecht, a new grad Optometrist from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry, to talk about her journey into practicing. Alexa shares the ups and downs of working in multiple practice locations six days a week, and how this work-life “imbalance” took a toll on her mental health and her attitude towards each location. Her story is very similar to many new grad Optometrists struggling to find their “perfect” practice setting while trying to balance student loan debt, networking, and managing stress. The end of the conversation ties in all of Dr. Hecht’s lessons which she kindly shares for other Optometrists who are going through the same situation. The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect Learn more about Dr. Alexa Hecht on TikTok and Instagram

Dr. Dan Friederich joins the Four Eyes podcast to share how he elevates the patient experience by offering high-quality ophthalmic products that aren’t available through mass distribution, and how that unique patient experience then leads to better Google reviews for the practice. This is a great conversation that emphasizes the importance of setting expectations in the quality of care we provide to patients, encouraging staff members to believe in those expectations, and achieving a great reputation within the community by getting patients to share their experiences on Google. The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect Learn more about Dr. Dan Friederich and Eyeganics

Deepon and Amrit catch up on their week. Amrit shares her personal experience on the hiring process for her new private practice. The Four Eyes hosts then sit down with a fellow colleague from the Illinois College of Optometry, Dr. Manveen Bedi. Dr. Bedi is residency-trained in specialty contact lenses, and has successfully opened a new private practice where she offers specialty contact lens services to the communities within the Greater Toronto Area. The hosts chat with Dr. Bedi about her motivation to complete a residency program, what it was like to open a practice as a young OD, and how other new graduates can dive into offering specialty lens services early into their careers. The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect Learn more about Dr. Manveen Bedi and her practice Check out these resources mentioned in today’s episode: Four Eyes Episode 30. How to Add Scleral Lenses to Your Practice; GP Lens Institute; Scleral Lens Education Society; Modern Optometry; Eyes on Eyecare

Dr. Ying Zhao, a Canadian Optometrist practicing at Avenue Eyecare in British Columbia, joins the Four Eyes hosts to discuss myopia control from the perspective of a young OD. Dr. Zhao answers questions on parent education, shares her treatment options for pediatric and adult onset myopia, and comments on the latest technology offered for myopia control. The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect Learn more about Dr. Ying Zhao Resources mentioned in the episode: Vision by Design 2023; World Council of Optometry; International Myopia Institute

Negotiating a contract as a new grad OD can be as terrifying as the first day of Optometry school. That’s why we’ve invited Dr. Emilie Seitz to the Four Eyes podcast to provide tips on negotiating contracts, identifying red flags, discussing money, and how to prioritize your needs. Dr. Seitz also shares her personal experiences when negotiating for job opportunities, as well as social media collaborations! The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect Learn more about Dr. Emilie Seitz Resources mentioned in the episode: ODs on Finance contract review and counseling; Gender and Optometry Wage Gaps by Dr.

Dr. Maharaj joins our podcast (for the third time!) to share the journey behind merging his successful dry eye specialty practice into a nationally recognized ophthalmology practice. The cohesive relationship between EyeLabs and the Prism Eye Institute is an excellent demonstration of how ODs and OMDs practice together as "heroes" to treat the common "villains" of eye disease. Dr. Maharaj shares not only his journey towards the Prism Eye Institute, but also his opinion on how Optometry is shifting. The landscape of Optometry is changing, and so we also discuss the importance of emphasizing medical specialties in Optometry. Resources: Listen to other Four Eyes episodes with Dr. Maharaj: Ep 19. Wisdom from the Dry Eye Jedi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEL7mn6Rk1I Ep 37. The Psychology of Optometry and Need for Self-Care: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fETE9lyC_5Y The 20/20 podcast with Dr. Harbir Sian: Episode 92 - The Future of Canadian Optometry - Dr. Richard Maharaj, The Independent Specialist https://aboutmyeyes.com/the-20-20-podcast/

Dr. Jasdeep Soni, also known as Optoturban on social media, returns to the podcast to share his personal experience with burnout through his optometric career and social media presence, and the steps he has taken to address mental fatigue. Dr. Bilkhu and Dr. Kar contribute to the conversation to bring a new graduate OD perspective on mental burnout that they have also experienced early into their careers. Check out Episode 32: Life as a New Grad with Optoturban to see what Dr. Soni was up to in the early stages of his career! Follow us on Instagram @foureyesoptom and listen to our podcast on all available podcast platforms.

We’re back with another season of Four Eyes! Dr. Kar and Dr. Bilkhu kick off the season by sharing tidbits they’ve learned over the early years of their career in hopes to help new graduate optometrists find their confidence and know their worth. Some of the tidbits also stress important tips on refractions and how to navigate Rx re-checks. Follow us on Instagram @foureyesoptom and listen to our podcast on all available podcast platforms. Resources mentioned in the episode: Four Eyes Ep 37 - The Psychology of Optometry and Need for Self-Care with Dr. Richard Maharaj: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/37-the-psychology-of-optometry-and-need-for-self/id1501087796?i=1000508456418 20/20 Podcast - The Future of Canadian Optometry Series by Dr. Harbir Sian: https://www.youtube.com/@HarbirSianOD/videos

We chat with Dr. Joanna Carter, who is a well known optometrist in the binocular vision world. She specializes in vision therapy and neuro-rehabilitation, and owns a specialty vision therapy practice in Oregon called Insight Vision Therapy. Dr. Carter comes on the podcast to talk about how vision therapy can benefit adult patients, and what visual conditions they can be referred for. Learn more about Insight Vision Therapy: https://insightvisiontherapy.com/

Dr. Hardeep Kataria joins our podcast for the second time to share her experience on implementing dry eye management to an established medical practice. We discuss a variety of topics including essential tests and equipment, technology that amplifies your dry eye practice, patient education, and how to streamline your staff to use your time efficiently. Learn more about Dr. Kataria through her Instagram @dr.hardeep.kataria to keep up with all that she's doing in the optometry world! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/foureyesoptom/support

Dr. Aparna Patel is a cornea, cataract, and refractive surgeon practicing in Kentucky. She joins the podcast to discuss the various types of refractive surgeries, what patients are best suited for the procedures, pre and post-op management, and how optometrists can co-manage with the surgeon. To learn more about Dr. Patel and the amazing work she does, follow her on Instagram @aparnapatelmd and visit Bennett and Bloom Eye Centres' website: https://www.eyecenters.com/

Dr. Mahnia Madan graduated from the Pacific University College of Optometry and completed her ocular disease and surgical co-management residency at the Eye Center of Texas. She also completed her fellowship with the AAO and now serves on the Board of Directors for the BC Optometric Association. Dr. Madan joins us on the podcast today to share her passion for treating dry eye disease. Dr. Madan is one of the few optometrists across North America treating her patients with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) eye drops. We discuss the science behind PRP's benefits on the ocular surface, how to appropriately prescribe the drops, and how it can be incorporated into your dry eye management plan! Learn more through Dr. Madan's Instagram @dr.mahnia.madan or visit her website: https://www.vancouvereyedr.ca/

Dr. Tanya Khan is an ophthalmologist who completed her fellowship training in Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Duke University. She is also the owner of Khan Eyelid and Facial Aesthetics in Texas. Dr. Khan joins the podcast to discuss her role as an oculoplastic surgeon, what common ocular conditions she manages, and how optometrists can refer their patients to oculoplastics for surgical procedures and non-invasive facial cosmetic augmentation! Learn more about Dr. Tanya Khan on Instagram @eyekhanmd or her website: https://www.khaneyelidsurgery.com/.

Dr. Rani Banik is a neuro-ophthalmologist in New York, and is also certified in Functional Medicine. Dr. Banik takes a unique, holistic approach to managing ocular conditions and autoimmune conditions. She joins the Four Eyes Podcast to discuss a more efficient way to recommend nutritional changes for our patients to improve ocular health. You can learn more about nutrition and ocular health through Dr. Banik's Instagram series named Best Foods for Eye Health from A-Z @dr.ranibanik, or visit her website where you can download her e-books on nutrition and wellness (e-book downloads can also be found on her Instagram bio link). Resources: 1. Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM): https://www.ifm.org/ 2. Integrative Practitioner: https://www.integrativepractitioner.com/ 3. Dr. Banik on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8mIi8P9tXSRXXwEdNX6aRw 4. Dr. Banik's Website: https://rudranibanikmd.com/

Dr. Rae Teixeira, a Canadian new grad optometrist, shares her personal concussion experience with us. She describes the traumatic event, the initial and residual symptoms, and what therapeutic treatments she tried in an attempt to feel like herself again. You can also listen to Episode 10 of our podcast, Concussion Management in Primary Care, for more information on how to better care for concussion patients in your optometry practice. Learn more about Dr. Teixeira's story on her Instagram @dr.raetxr and visit the following links to learn more about concussion: 1. Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA): https://noravisionrehab.org/ 2. Concussion Alliance: https://www.concussionalliance.org/ 3. Ontario Brain Injury Association: https://obia.ca/